Bailey Lane End Music Festival

The Bailey Lane End Music Festival is an annual competition held in the Forest of Dean and open to brass soloists, duets and groups of children of all ages.

Our aim is to encourage young players (often playing their first public solo) to take part and experience performing, though prizes are awarded in all nine solo, duet and quartet sections. We also encourage adults to play their first public solos in the open section.

Though the Band took on the running of the Festival in 2010 and focused on brass performance, the event had been in existence for many decades before that. Named after the nearby hamlet of Bailey Lane End, where the festival originated, the event at one time also included other musical forms, such as woodwind, strings and singing, an example of the long musical tradition in the Forest of Dean. Having been run from the Methodist Church in Bailey Lane End, in more recent years the event had then been held in Drybrook Band Room and Forest Church. It was this connection that led the organising committee to approach the band in 2009 and ask if we would take on the Festival. In honour of this long history the name of the event was maintained.

Music Festival 2023

On Saturday 13th May the 53rd Bailey Lane End Music Festival took place. Congratulations to all the competitors and to the winners on the day!

We would like to thank our sponsors Wright & Round, who kindly donated prizes for each class. Established in 1875, Wright & Round are one of the oldest publishing house in brass banding with a catalogue in excess of 5000 titles.

Thank you to Five Acres High School for allowing us to use their hall and facilities for the event.

Thanks also go to our adjudicator Jack Lythaby, part of the current horn team at Tredegar Town Band and former competitor at the Festival.

We would also like to thank all the parents & teachers who make this event possible. We look forward to seeing you all again for the 54th Bailey Lane End Festival.

Full Results...

Class 1 - Junior Brass Solo under 11 years - Solo Shield

1. Albert Barzillia
2. Alfie Marr
3. Jonah McKie

Class 2 - Junior Brass Solo 11 to 12 years - Morgan Electrical Services Trophy

1. Sadie Davies
2. Euan Bayfield
3. Harry Appleby

Class 3 - Junior Brass Solo 13 to 16 years - The Fred Kettle Memorial Cup

1. Connor Edwards
2. April Donoghue
3. Dougie Ray

Class 4 - Brass Duet 16 years and under - Piano & Violin Cup

1. Sadie Davies and Dougie Ray
2. April and Oliver Donoghue
3. Ben and Scott Townsend, and Connor Edwards / Wren and Jonah Mckie

Class 5 - Junior Brass Quartet 16 years and under Quartette Shield

1. Connor Edwards, Scott Townsend, April and Oliver Donoghue

Class 6 - Brass Solo Open 11 years and under 21 - Young Players Shield

1. Connor Edwards
2. Louis Thomas
3. Anna Conroy

Class 7 - Duet - Adult and child under 16 years - ‘E. W. Annetts Trophy

1. Connor Edwards and Elizabeth Forster
2. Kerry Ford and Dougie Ray
3. Louis Thomas and David Harding

Class 9 - Open Brass Solo - Gary Phillips Shield

1. Craig Wintle
2. Louis Thomas
3. Connor Edwards

Class 10 - Open Brass Quartet/Quintet – Bailey Lane End Centenary Trophy

1. Drybrook Band
2. Parkend Silver Band